Chennai: DVAC arrested two people in connection with its ongoing investigation into suspected large-scale irregularities in the functioning of Tasmac between 2021 and 2025. The suspects — Karthik and his associate Ramesh from Karur district — were produced before a Chennai court on Friday and remanded in judicial custody.The arrests followed the registration of a corruption case by special investigation cell (SIC) of DVAC after a probe into materials received from Tamil Nadu govt. The agency said that the inquiry disclosed prima facie evidence of cognisable offences.The case was registered against former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthilbalaji, former Tasmac managing director S Visakan, former senior regional managers T Ramadurai Murugan and R Panneer Selvam, Senthilbalaji’s former personal assistant Bhaskar, Rathesh Raj Shanmugavel, Karthik, distillery and brewery companies, transport firms, bottling companies, unidentified Tasmac officials and other persons.According to DVAC, the case was registered under provisions of IPC, BNS, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.Investigators said the suspects were involved in irregularities relating to the allotment of Tasmac bar licences, transport contracts and other aspects of the corporation’s operations during the period from 2021 to 2025.Karthik and his associate Ramesh were arrested on Thursday, July 30. Ramesh was not named in the original FIR but was arrested based on evidence collected during further investigation.
